Folding crate or box.



PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

S. J. BROWN. FOLDING CRATE OR BOX. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15,1904.

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s. J. BROWN. FOLDING CRATE OR BOX.

APPLICATION TILED SEPT. 15,1904.

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a. g I/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL J. BROWN, OF EKRON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF-TO WILLIAM A.MORGAN, OF EASTMAN, GEORGIA.

FOLDING CRATE OR BOX- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed September 15,1904. Serial No. 224,608.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ekron, in the county of Meade and State of Kentucky, haveinvented a new and useful Folding Crate or Box, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to folding crates or boxes, and has for itsobject to provide a simply-constructed and easily-operated receptacle ofthis character having novel features of construction and arrangement ofparts; and the invention consists in certain novel features ofconstruction, as hereinafter shown and described, and specified in theclaims.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, in which correspondingparts are denoted by like designating characters, Figure 1 is aperspective view of the improved device set up, and Fig. 2 is a similarview of the device collapsed or folded. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectionaldetails of the means for locking the device open or closed. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the device set up with the cover removed. Fig. 6 isa collective detail view of the parts comprising the central sealingmeans.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail of one of the hinges between the foldingsides and ends'and the base. Fig. 8 is a perspective detail view. on anenlarged scale, showing a portion of one of the cover members.

The improved device consists of a base member 10, having transversecleats 11 12 at the ends, and between these cleats the side members arefoldably disposed, as shown. The side members consist of spacedlongitudinal slats 13 and transverse ribs 14, the latter hinged by oneend to the base member, as at 15, and with their upper ends extending inadvance of the outermost of the slats 13, as shown at 16. As many of theslats and ribs may be employedas'required, depending on the size ofcrate desired; but for the purpose of illustration three slats and threetransverse ribs are shown. The width of the base member 13 and the ribs14 should be so proportioned that when the side members are foldedinward upon the base member they will not overlap, and the cleats 11 12should be as high as the combined thickness of the slats 13 and ribs 14,as will be obvious. The end members of the crate are formed oflongitudinal slats 17 and transverse ribs 18, the ribs hinged to thecleats 11 and 12 in the same manner as the ribs 14 are hinged to thebase 10. The transverse ribsare provided with springcatches 17*, oneonly being shown in Fig. 5, which are designed to engage the side mem.bers and hold them against inward yielding.

These spring-catches are adapted to be pressed inward against thetransverse ribs when the side members are to be collapsed. It willbenoted that the lowermost of the side slats rest directly upon basemember 10, so that no crevices remain at the sides through which thelegs or feet of fowls can pass, and thus become injured, when the crateis employed for shipping poultry, while the cleats 11 12 serve the samepurpose at the ends. By this arrangement of parts shown the side membersare foldable inward upon the base member 10 and the end members foldableover the folded side members, as shown in Fig. 2.

I hereinafter explained.

The cover member is formed of longitudinal-spaced slats 26, connected attheir ends by transverse cleats 27 28, the latter depending beyond theupper slats 17 of the end members when the latter are distended, asshown in Fig. 1. The outer slats of the cover member are provided withrecesses 29, in which the projecting ends 16 of the ribs 14 extend whenthe cover is in position, and each of these recesses will be providedwith oppositely-disposed clefts to receive metal stop-plates 30 to formclosures to the recesses, as shown, the plates being held in position bynails or screws, as indicated at 31.

The cover member is provided with a central transverse rib 32, andcentrally of this rib is a depression or recess 33, and in the endcleats 27 28 similar recesses 34 are formed, one only being shown inFig. 2. Metal strips 37 are inserted between the cleats 27v 28 and theslats 26, adjacentto the recesses 34, to form closures thereto andtransform them into apertures to confine a lock-bar 36 and hold thecover member in position. The recesses 33 and 34 are in longitudinalalinement and will ing so long as the bar is in position. To prevent theaccidental or surreptitious removal of the bar and the premature openingof the crate, the recess and the center of the bar 36 are provided withregistering apertures 37 38, through which a seal or look, as 39,

of approved form may be passed. I

When the crate is to be collapsed or folded, the bar 36 is removed, thecover detached, and the sides and ends folded inward, this actionbringing the loops 24: 25 in position opposite the path of the, bar 36,and by inserting the bar through these loops means are provided forlocking the crate in its collapsed position, the apertures 37 38 beingavailable for applying a lock or seal both to the closed and open crate,as will be obvious.

The crate may be employed for shipping poultry, fruit, vegetables, orany desired produce or merchandise and may be constructed in anyrequired size and of any required material and may be formed withslotted or closed sides, as may be found advantageous.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a foldingcrate or box, side and end members foldableinwardly into superimposedposition and provided with transverse recesses and swinging loops forregistration with said recesses, a cover member for engagement with saidside and end members when set up and having apertures corresponding withsaid recesses and swinging loops, and with a transverse rib having arecess disposed in longitudinal alinement with the recess in said endmembers and provided with a transverse aperture, and alocking-bar forengagement with said recesses and apertures and loops and having atransverse aperture for registration with the aperture in saidtransverse rib, said registering apertures providing means for theapplication of a sealing member, substantially as described.

2. In a folding crate or box, side and end members separable at thecorners and foldable inwardly, said side members having spacedprojections at their free edges, in combination with a cover memberhaving spaced recesses in the side edges to receive said projections,and with oppositely-disposed clefts in said recesses to receive metalstop-strips in advance of said projections, substantially as described.

3. In a folding crate or box, side and end members foldable inwardlyinto superimposed position and provided with transverse recesses andswinging loops for registration with said recesses upon the innersurfaces of said end members, swinging loops carried by the lower outeredges of said end members for extension in advance of their outersurfaces, a cover member for engagement with said side and end memberswhen folded and having a central longitudinal recess, and a locking-barfor engagement with the longitudinal recess and said outwardly-extendingloops, whereby said crate or box may be locked in its closed position,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL J. BROWN. W tnesses A. G. GUEDRY, (J. H. MILLS.

